Neverland is a state of mind, a mountain pushed up from the ground by imagination. Anyone can go but most people have trouble with the simple directions: Follow your dreams. This winter Absinthe dropped down the rabbit hole to explore this elusive place and brought back some mind bending tales and a pocketful of surprises. Travis Rice, Dan Brisse, Bode Merrill, Nicolas Müller, Sylvain Bourbousson, JP Solberg, Romain deMarchi, DCP, Marc Frank Montoya, Annie Boulanger, Marie-France Roy, Jules Reymond, Wille Yli-Luoma, Cale Zima, Phil Damianakes, Wolfgang Nyvelt, Kevin Pearce, Eero Ettala, Gigi Rüf and the rest of the Lost Boys continued down the road less traveled and explored some new possibilities during a winter that saw the progression of snowboarding take some giant strides.

Absinthe Films

As part of our online snow film industry summit, we caught up with Hostynek to get his thoughts on where the industry he helped shape is heading.

What do you think the biggest forces shaping movie production over the last few years have been and what will they be going forward?

Two of the forces that inevitably shape snowboard movie production are funding and distribution. Funding overall is weaker than it has been due to the faltering economy but the competitive field has also narrowed. Those who stay in business through this downturn will be in a stronger position than they were to begin with. The future of distribution is a riddle that everyone from newspaper publishers, to music industry and Hollywood executives are trying to figure out. It is the future which many mistake for the end. It’s just the end of how we know it. People will want to keep watching our films. How the viewing experience is delivered is what will eventually change. The only element in the foreseeable future of snowboard film making, that is truly scary, is climate change if people continue to ignore it.

How has digital distribution affected Absinthe and the industry in general?

Digital distribution for snowboard films is in it’s infancy but it has the potential to grow up fast and no one knows what sizes it will be wearing in the next couple of years. For the well being of our planet it is a much better distribution model but people will continue to buy Absinthe DVD’s even as new distribution channels materialize. There are a lot of layers to our films that reveal themselves over time. They aren’t perceived as being disposable. People who ride will continue to want to have them to hold, to open, to watch again and to keep in their collection.

What are your thoughts on how to make this channel more beneficial than harmful in the future?

By embracing change and putting our energy into making a better product instead of fighting the inevitable. By putting everything we have into our films for so many years, a relationship has been created between Absinthe and our audience. If we continue to deliver, they are down to support what we do and that is the difference. Sure, some people will rip it, they are snowboarders, it’s inevitable. But a lot of people do understand that if you don’t support what you love, it goes away. Kids understand this on some level too.

What role do you think movies have in shaping the sport, whether it be for new riders, public perception, stoking current riders, etc.?

Like with the skate industry, they are a big part of what drives our industry. They can be a strengthening influence on our sport if ethics and standards are upheld, or they can become very damaging through proliferation of weak standards. A lot of it is up to the distributors and retailers. It comes down to whether they take on everyone who throws something together or if they set some standards of what should represent snowboarding today and what should represent snowboarding to the next generation.

What do you see as the best and worst aspects of the movie business right now?

For me, the best and worst aspects of the business haven’t changed:
1) I get to work outside at something that never gets old and make a product that I believe makes a difference.
2) People who don’t love snowboarding still have too much influence on our sport.

What are your predictions for the next couple of years for production companies, distributors and retailers?

A lot of people who aren’t in it for the riding will move along.

In an economy like this, how do you convince sponsors that films are a good place to put their marketing dollars?

By showing them our films.

Do you see snowboarding films moving to a more team based model like in skate?

It hasn’t worked out that well for most people who have tried it so far. Making a snowboard film that leaves a lasting, positive impression on a massive audience is not easy, quick or cheap. But it is a good way for manufacturers to gain a firsthand perspective on what it takes to pull it off for real.>

The wait is over.

June 24th, 2009 Hit the mountains on your quest to become the next snowboarding phenomenon in Stoked, the open-world, back country snowboarding experience featuring five huge open-world mountains, changing weather patterns, and the sponsorship and cooperation of some of the most respected and influential names in the sport.

Developed in conjunction with world-renowned snowboarding movie creator Absinthe Films, Stoked captures the pioneering spirit of professional back country riders. Exhilarating snowboarding experiences are born from dynamic backcountry conditions. The riders who brave and master these conditions are the stuff of legend in Absinthe videos and the pages of snowboarding magazines. The look and style of these riders are emulated across the world. In Stoked, it’s your turn to become a legendary rider and wow the world on Xbox Live online entertainment network by becoming an absolute snowboarding phenomenon.

In Stoked, craft a snowboarding career with your own customizable style and ride five famous mountains featuring over 45 square miles of open terrain in each location. Discover new drop points by helicopter. Dynamic and ever-evolving weather conditions await riders as they choose where they ride and what they ride in by tracking conditions that suit their tastes.

Riders get instant drop in access to multiplayer action where they team up with friends to create a wide variety of riding experiences, both cooperative and competitive. Players can also go up against other riders on Xbox Live in a series of sponsored events to boost their fame!

Own trick spots, show up rivals, and build your reputation. Take pictures of friends and capture video of your best moves to win the kind of attention that lands you on the cover of a snowboarding magazine. Conquer massive mountains and carve your path as a snowboarding phenomenon in the deepest, truest backcountry snowboarding video game yet: Stoked.

With the title already performing well in America there is a huge anticipation for the title across Europe.

“We at zushi are delighted to have reached an agreement with Destineer for our first Xbox 360® title Stoked. After a successful launch in the USA earlier this year we believe Stoked has huge potential in Europe which zushi is backing with our biggest ever pr & marketing campaign spend across trade and retail.” Barry Hatch zushi games.

“Destineer is thrilled to be working with zushi to bring our highly anticipated game Stoked to the UK and Europe. We’re equally excited to be working with zushi and hope to continue working with them to bring more Destineer titles to these territories.” explained Paul Rinde, CEO of Destineer.

Stoked is also supported by the biggest magazines in the snowboarding industry. Headlining is Method Magazine one of the biggest snowboarding magazines in Europe. Along with Method, Huck Magazine, Onboard, Snowboard Canada, and Snowboard Mag. “It is an awesome opportunity to be featured in a game like this. It is a great experience. I am sure that all European fans of snowboarding will love this game.”

Five Gigantic Real-World Mountains: Leave worn-out resorts behind and travel the world in search of the ultimate back country location. Explore five world-renowned summits. Discover new drop points by helicopter, bail out and experience more than 45 square-miles of open terrain on each peak.

Dynamic Weather and Environments: Every day the snow and weather conditions change on each of the mountains featured in the game thanks to a dynamic weather and time of day system. Snow accumulates on mountain surfaces, changing the riding experience, opening new paths, and building new trickable features and challenges. Different weather conditions offer different experiences and riding challenges. Choose where, when, and in what conditions you’d like to ride!

Seamless Multiplayer: Invite your friends to ride with you in instant drop-in multiplayer! While riding together you can select custom helicopter drop points, create competitive or cooperative challenges, or call out tricks for members of your posse to pull off as you snap their photos. When you’re ready to get serious, go up against other boarders on Xbox LIVE in sponsored events to build your fame.

Style Crafting: As you develop your style, the animation system will adapt to how you play, and the other riders on the mountain will emulate your moves! But doing tricks isn’t the only way to convey a sense of style. Thirty of the industry’s top gear manufacturers, clothing brands, and international magazines have joined forces with Destineer and Absinthe to help you build your career. As your legend grows so will your stylistic choices.

Real Riders, Real Pros, Real Sponsors: Stoked features some of the most influential professional riders and names in the sport: Travis Rice, Nicolas Mueller, Wolle Nyvelt, Annie Boulanger, Romain de Marchi, Tadashi Fuse, Gigi Ruef, and Bjorn Leines. An impressive line up of 30 authentic sponsors also appear in Stoked including but not limited to: Burton, Dragon, Arcus, Von Zipper, Eleven, 686, Billabong, DaKine, Electric, LibTech, Nitro, Northwave, Oakley, Quiksilver, Ride, Hart, Rome, Salomon, TechNine, Vans, Volcom, Anon, Nikita, Raiden, Red, Roxy, Sodalicious and VonZipper!

About Bongfish

Bongfish GmbH has developed authentic licensed action-sports video games since 1999. Located in Graz, Austria, the studio specializes in recreating the ’soul & vibe’ of action sports experiences using their own proprietary technology.

About Absinthe Films

Absinthe Films established themselves as a premiere snowboard film production company with the late 90’s. Since then, owners Justin Hostynek and Patrick Armbruster have been pushing the envelope of snowboard film making the world over while remaining committed to environmental awareness and responsibility. For more information on Absinthe Films visit www.absinthe-films.com.

Visit the Official Website

Visit the Official Blog

More Information on Stoked

Interview Gemma Freeman |  Photography Lozza

White gold smothers Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Snow-pregnant skies are sliced open by the jagged peaks of the Grand Teton National Park as Rendezvous Mountain blows huge snowflakes onto the slopes, which lie smothered by the highest-ever recorded snowfall.

It’s mid-season and conditions are perfect for local pro Travis Rice’s Quiksilver Natural Selection: a new surf-inspired comp where the world’s finest snowboarders display their freestyle skills on natural terrain. The concept is genius and the line up immense. But I’m not here to record another set of results. Instead, I’m here to focus on one contestant: Nicolas Müller.

The personification of snowboard style and creativity, the Swiss German is a legend at the age of twenty-six. Born in the Alpine town of Aarau, just outside Zurich, he learnt to ski as a toddler, but, as a talented skater, turned to snowboarding in 1992. After honing his talent on the immaculate halfpipes of his home resort of Laax, he began to notch up podium places and was snapped up by Burton. Soon after, he started winning medals at prestigious events like the Air and Style, Burton European Open and Arctic Challenge, garnering much attention for his uniquely explosive style.

But, an artist at heart, it wasn’t long before Nicolas rejected the park for the backcountry. His first film part for Absinthe’s Tribal (2000), saw him take the skills he’d perfected on man-made features and apply them to the whole mountain, joining the ‘backcountry freestyle’ movement and redefining what is possible on a shred stick. Whether he’s boosting out of the pipe with a beautifully exaggerated Japan or buttering deep Alpine powder, Nicolas’ lines are liquid and spontaneous.

These days, Nicolas’ inimitable approach inspires far beyond snowboarding. Following in the footsteps of rider-campaigners such as David Rastovich and Elise Garrigue, Nicolas has created his own agenda, and uses his position to educate others on environmental issues. Working closely with Burton, he even helped develop The Green Mountain Project, a collection of environmentally friendlier snowboard products.

I meet Nicolas for dinner early one evening. We’re dining alone in an upmarket Teton village restaurant – Nicolas’ choice as it has the best vegetarian cuisine in this steak-loving, cowboy town. It’s strangely silent for peak season, but that’s because the Super Bowl is on, resulting in loud cheers from the neighbouring hotel bar. There’s also an over-zealous waiter to contend with, who seems intent on hovering around. Distractions aside, soon enough drink and food arrive – and conversation starts to flow.

HUCK: Most people would kill to snowboard for a living. But I’ve got to ask: does anything about pro snowboarding ever piss you off?
Nicolas Müller: Actual snowboarding, on a great day, will never get old or boring. But the daily routine is always the same. I don’t know, I’ve been doing this for a long time – a long, long time. I started snowboarding in 1992, I stopped school at sixteen and since then I have snowboarded for a living. I’ve been to all the contests, been motivated, a couple of them I won, and then you come back the next year and you’re like, ‘I could win again or…?’ After a while it gets kind of boring. So now, it’s powder trips that I enjoy the most. This contest is really cool though – you get to ride for a week with your friends.

Are you bummed out on it all?
I’m not bummed out, but what really gave me joy before, it changes you know; you grow up, times change… I snowboard all year, then snowboard all summer in New Zealand and then I go to all the premieres. Over the last two years, I do so many premieres and promotions in the fall, that when it gets to November, when the winter should start, I can’t even go snowboarding. I’m usually so over it. But then I have the Air and Style, where I’m expected to do good, show a new trick, spin… I just need a break from it. Just clear my head in general, you know?

Do you think you’re a bit battered and tired?
Yes, but then no… This is me right now. It’s like psychiatrist talk, but I don’t know… Sometimes I just have those moments, you know? I love snowboarding, and if it’s a great powder day I forget about everything. Even here, the day before the contest, I had one of the best days ever. But on the day of the contest I was like, [shrugs shoulders] ‘Whatever…’

You weren’t feeling it?
Yeah, I was just really not feeling it. I don’t know why. Here in the US, people are so friendly, everyone’s like, ‘Hey, how’s it going?’ but I’m like, ‘Dude, I don’t want to talk to you, I don’t want to go places, I just want to be alone’. Sometimes I take it, but sometimes I just don’t have the energy to make small talk. But maybe that’s because I don’t have a home? I look at it like everything happens for a reason, so it’s just something I have to learn to deal with.

Have you ever thought about going back to school or university?
I definitely want to learn but I don’t want to go to school, to learn crap based on somebody’s opinion. Okay, not everything is crap but – this could be a really long story – humans, right now, we’re in a time of change. A lot of people feel it. We’re coming into a new age, the golden age, starting 2012. It’s just a number which is calculated from the Maya culture of time, but I do believe that there is a new age coming up. People are going to be more conscious. What life is about right now in the world is having a good life. Everything is easy: you have a car, you have an elevator, you have TV, you can order things online. Where’s the meaning? It’s like nobody knows. We’re totally in the dark; tripping in the dark, if you know what I mean. That is definitely some people, but not me; that is not my life. House, wife, kids, car, everything; that is not what life is about. There is so much more, you know. A secret… I don’t know.

Have you ever been into Buddhism or Indian philosophy at all? I know there is the idea of world consciousness and us all being connected by energy there… Is that something you’ve looked into?
Yeah, not too much yet, but I definitely want to look into it. Maybe it’s because of where I am right now; today I waited all day for two runs and am like, ‘What am I doing?’ This contest is sick, the snow is amazing, and Travis is doing an awesome job but… [pauses]. I sent Jake [Burton] a book called Cradle to Cradle, which is about a total solution to how we make products – anything. Like this chair, the paint on the walls, our carpet, our clothes, it’s always made the same way, resulting in a dead end where they end up burnt or in landfill. Burton was a huge part of that; all those bindings, boots, boards, clothes, everything – there was nothing recyclable… That’s why we started the Green Mountain Project.

www.arcusclothing.com

To read the full feature, check out Huck #013.

Luck favors the prepared. When the perfect conditions finally materialize will you be ready to elevate your riding to the next level? Absinthe Films spent the winter exploring various states of preparedness.

Keeping it fresh with diversity and an infusion of new blood: Kevin Pearce, Jeremy Jones, Scotty Lago, Cale Zima and Keegan Valaika joined Gigi Rüf, Wolfgang Nyvelt, Romain de Marchi, Mikey LeBlanc and Nicolas Müller to concoct another Absinthe Films original. In a world where the digital format has taken over the industry, Absinthe remains committed to documenting these amazing riders with the most timeless and stylish medium: Film. Following up to last year’s question ‘Optimistic?’, Absinthe answers with a crew of riders who overcome obstacles with spontaneity and skill in another full spectrum snowboard film that is down to have some more fun with snowboarding. Ready.

“I like driving,” Slug tells me, his enthusiasm near bursting at the seams. “It’s just like a real life video game and I’m really fucking good at it. High score and everything!”

I am standing in a side alley in Camden, North London with Slug – one half of prolific hip hop duo Atmosphere. The setting is something he requested before the interview so as he could smoke.

Compromising of Slug AKA Sean Daley as MC and Anthony “Ant” Davis as producer, they have been making records out of Minneapolis, Minnesota for the past 15 years. Most commonly known for Slug’s raw, emotive and highly personal rants about women, alcohol and fatherhood, they have been branded as kings of their own sub-genre of ‘emo hip hop’.

Now on their sixth album, entitled When Life Gives You a Lemon, You Paint That Shit Gold, they have created a much mellower, less angst-ridden sound focusing more on story-telling and social commentary. Says Slug: “We just wanted something not so in your face, something more that you had to pay attention to it to really hear.”

Along with this new approach, accompanying the album is a kid’s illustrated story book written by Slug himself. But he is keen to stress that it is not for kids, more for adults who haven’t grown up yet.

“It’s kind of a sarcastic middle finger to people who would say the album is dumbed down,” he tells me. “It’s like saying ‘Nah, it’s not, but now because you’ve said that, I am going to dumb it down.’ And a kid’s story is about as dumbed down as it can get. I hate to admit that but then when I started writing it, I had fun. It ended up turning into something way better than it was originally supposed to be.”

Curious as Slug’s thinking is – altering his actions in response to imagined criticism – it is merely an indication as to the depths of his introspection. But with this, he is disarmingly honest about such behaviour. As with his rhymes, he talks frantically about his own issues, explaining his thought-processes before humbly apologising for “rambling”.

“I don’t really think about the listener,” he says in his sharp yet friendly tone, “I’ve never been very good at that. If I did, I would probably rap better. But I do what I do for my own selfish reasons. The songs are fictional but are torn from different parts of my world.”

It’s exactly Slug’s deeply personal and open nature that has attracted such a loyal following of fans. But this new direction has attracted a hoard of criticism from disillusioned fans via their MySpace page, of which Slug personally handles the correspondence.

“You’re always going to have people who identify a lot with what you do so when you start to steer away from that, it hurts their feelings. I understand that but I have to say back that I can’t fucking tip toe around their feelings,” he tells me, flicking his second cigarette into the gutter. “I like to have MySpace so when a kid says ‘Fuck you, you’ve sold out’ I get to vent and do like fifteen paragraphs saying ‘Here’s why I’m not a sell out, you fucking internet dork!’ I like to nerd out, get on message boards and talk shit!”

One particular point of angst that Slug has become synonymous with is ‘Lucy Ford’ – a fictitious female character and one of which bore the brunt of many of Slug’s particularly vicious verbal attacks.

“It was just me projecting my issues towards women, but it was also tied to alcoholism. A lot of people go through that, it’s just that I rapped about it.”

But ‘Lucy’ is conspicuously absent in the new album. She is something Slug believes to have grown out of.

“Now I take responsibility for all my flaws, and all of my err.. good things!” he says with a laugh. “But I’m not going to point the finger at beer, cos I still like beer. It’s just too much of anything is a bad thing.”

As we finish the interview, the mic check inside booms through to the alley. He mimicks it, repeating it over, and adding new words, flicking from the real world back to the immense world inside his head. The whole ‘driving/real life computer game’ thing seems to make a lot of sense.

When Life Gives you Lemons, you Paint that Shit Gold by Atmosphere is out now.

Backed by a pro team roster that includes some of the world’s top action sports athletes, DAKINE has been an industry leader in action sports accessories for over a quarter of a century. Founded in Hawaii and based in Hood River, Oregon, DAKINE offers a complete range of innovative products, including sport-specific to street-savvy backpacks, bags, travel gear and accessories. To see the full line of winter ‘08 DAKINE products, log on to www.dakine.com.

Download Wolfgang and make yourself a Shredz version.

Also check out Dakine in Stoked. Hey, if you impress on the mountain enough with your style maybe the folks at Dakine will offer to sponsor you.

Head on over to Snowboard Mag to enter into this awesome giveaway.

Winter is winding down and summer is just around the corner. It’s a sad time of year to see all the snow melt away but have no fear, the Stay Stoked this Summer contest is here and one die-hard shredder will win the dream gaming set-up that will keep your snowboarding fix going all summer long.

Our friends at Destineer and Dakine have teamed up with SNOWBOARD Mag to give away an epic prize package worth over $600.

We can’t say enough about our partner Absinthe Films. We would be nothing without the help and amazing teamwork of Brusti and the rest of the crew. Bigtime film from a first-class Film company.

www.absinthe-films.com, www.sphereofinfluencetour.com/

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